Bad News Barrett heads into WrestleMania 31 as the Intercontinental champion, and puts his title on the line in a seven-man ladder match. Many think it'll be the match of the night. While Barrett won't guarantee a win tonight to Sun Media's Jan Murphy, he does guarantee that he'll be the best performer in the bout.

JAN MURPHY: Ready for WrestleMania?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: I'm very excited. It's been a little while coming for this WrestleMania moment. This is definitely my biggest opportunity I've ever had in terms of a WrestleMania, so I'm massively excited to get it going.

JAN MURPHY: You've had some struggles with injuries. How did you deal with it, missing TV, and everything associated with being away?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: It's definitely a bit of a stress when you get injured. Obviously, we're constantly looking to grow in the company and keep developing so to get injuries and be sat home is brutal -- mentally more than physically. The physical stuff, the rehab and stuff, is tough, but mentally it's worth than anything. It's good to finally be back and having a good run and getting my opportunity at WrestleMania this year.

JAN MURPHY: Macho Man Randy Savage is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and many people associate him with a time when the Intercontinental title meant something. Is it fair to say that it has recently taken a back seat?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: I think it's important. I think the performances of people that have held the title have all been very strong. I think it's the support of the booking team and the writing team that hasn't necessarily been there for that title. I think that we get this highlight at WrestleMania. I hope that after WrestleMania the level of writing and focus and spotlight that is put on this title continues, because if it doesn't, then it's all for nothing. But like I said, we get this moment at WrestleMania. We're going to go out there, we're going to kill it, we're going to have a great match and put in a great performance, I guarantee it. Like I said, after WrestleMania, fingers crossed that momentum can continue.

JAN MURPHY: The Intercontinental title ladder match could be a showstealer - do you see it that way?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: I think so. I think we have seven guys in that match who are all looking to put in a great performance. We all are very hungry. I think that's very vital element to putting on a great match in WrestleMania. The fact that we get these ladders involved too, it's very dangerous, it's kind of terrifying -- I've climbed up a few of them before, and believe me, it isn't fun falling off them. But like I say, we're going to go out there, we're going to do everything we can to put on the best match on the show. That's basically seven hungry guys wanting to steal the spotlight.

JAN MURPHY: WrestleMania, what does it mean to go out to that crowd?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: We wrestle probably five times a week in front of thousands of fans and millions of people watching around the world. But to walk out at WrestleMania in these huge mega-stadiums with 80,000 in them, screaming at you, there's nothing like it in the world. I can't even describe the feeling I get walking around there. I've done it twice now in my past. This is going to be the third time. It's an amazing feeling. It really is something that you almost have to put out of your mind and focus on your match, and then try to absorb it afterward. It's amazing, it's incredible.

JAN MURPHY: Can you guarantee a win?

BAD NEWS BARRETT: I can never guarantee anything, but what I can guarantee you is that I am the best performer in that match. The only thing the other six have over me is that they are better thieves than me, and I promise you that at WrestleMania I will punish them for their antics.

Jan Murphy is representing Sun Media in the Bay Area for WrestleMania 31, so be sure to check in often for his stories. When not covering wrestling, he is the news editor at the Kingston Whig-Standard and has written about wrestling for 15 years. He launched Chinlock.com to archive his wrestling stories. You can follow Jan on Twitter at @Jan_Murphy.